Container



Aug 31 2', 3945. J. R. RICHARDS ET AL 9 5 CONTAINER Filed Feb. 11, 19442 Sheets-Sheet l /3 j- INVENTOR.

J. R. RICHARDS ETAL 232,819

CONTAINER Filed Feb. 11, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,E INVENTOR.

* WZz m Patented Aug. id, 1945 CONTAINER John R. Richards and Charles W.Evert, Milwaukee, Wis., assignors to Downing Box Company, Milwaukee,Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application February 11, 1944, SerialNo. 521,936

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in containers, and moreparticularly to containers adapted for the transportation and handlingof bottled or canned beverages such as beer.

Containers formed of fiberboard have in recent years, because of theirrelatively inexpensive nature and lightness in weight, becomeincreasingly popular for use as beverage cases in lieu of the woodenboxes formerly employed. Two types of fiberboard containers are commonlyused. One type, the single shipment variety, is formed of relativelylight-weight fiberboard and is of a very inexpensive nature. The othertype, with which the present invention is concerned, must be constructedto stand up satisfactorily when re-used seven or eight times. Containersof this latter variety as heretofore constructed have, however, beenobjectionable for a number of reasons. Inasmuch as it is common practiceto pick up a beverage case by the hand hole of one end wall only, agreat deal of strain is placed on said end wall, causing tearing,particularlyiat' the corners. In addition, the usual fiberboardcontainer of this type will not withstand a iairge amount of inwardpressure on the side cij'tOp and will not withstand pressures applied totwo diagonally opposite corners. Furthermore, difiiculty has beenencoun-- tered in maintaining the hinged covers against popping openduring handling.

It is, therefore,.a general object of the present invention to providean improved fiberboard container which is constructed in a novel mannerto provided greater rigidity in all directions. Thus the box willwithstand the usual rough handling, the containers can be stacked one ontop of another without fear of crushing those below, and the containerscannot be injured when pressures of the usual type are applied to twodiagonally opposite corners.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container includingcomplementary hinged covers, the covers and end walls being constructedin a novel manner to cooperate with each other in producing a bracingeffect against both inward and outward strains when the covers areclosed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container of the classdescribed wherein the covers are maintained firmly in position even whenthe box is subjected to diagonal pressures.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container formed offiberboard or the like which has such strength, rigidity, and resistanceto tearing or breaking forces that it can be re-used a relatively largenumber of times.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a container, asabove described, having complementary hinged covers wherein each covermember is formed with side and end flanges, and wherein the containerend walls are provided with upper edge slots for receiving the meetingside flanges and with external upper edge channels for receiving the endflanges of the cover members. With this arrangement the container isbraced against inward, outward, or diagonal strains on the end walls andagainst downward pressure on the cover sections. Furthermore, covermembers are maintained in position because of the frictional engagementof the side flanges within the end wall slots and because of thefrictional engagement of the end flanges Within the end wall channels.

A further, more specific objection oithe invention is to provide aconstruction wherein each end wall channel is formed by integral meansbent downwardly from the upper edge of the end wall and then upwardly,the downwardly bent portion upper edge slot of the end wall proper.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide a containerhaving end wall channels wherein the horizontal fold line between thedownwardly and upwardly bent channel forming parts is slotted at itsends for receiving the upper portions of the side wall flanges in aBliss type of box. Thus the upper ends of these side wall flanges, whichoverlap the end walls, are received between the downwardly and upwardlybent portions of the channels. By this arrangement the downwardly andupwardly bent channel forming portions are held in properly separatedcondition for readily receiving the end flanges of the cover members.Furthermore, the end wall channels do not project an undesired distancebeyond the surfaces of the end walls.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of theimproved container and all its parts and combinations, as set forth inthe claims and all equivalents thereof:

In the accompanying drawings illustrating one complete embodiment of thepreferred form of the invention, in which the same reference numeralsdesignate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. l is a, perspective view of the container with the cover sectionsopen;

Fig. 2 is an end view with the covers closed, part being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 3--3 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of P18. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the cut and scored end wall blanksbefore folding; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the blank of Fig. 5 after the upper edgeportions have been folded to form a. channel.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the box illustrated is ofthe Bliss" type, but features of the invention are obviously applicablefor use in other types of boxes. The container comprises side walls IIand I2 foldably connected to opposite edges of a bottom wall l3, covermembers l4 and I6 foldable toward one another irom the upper edges ofthe side walls II and I2, and end walls l6 and I1 secured by metalstitching l3, or in any other suitable manner, to stitching flaps l9 and26. The side walls, bottom wall, end walls and cover are preferablyformed of solid fiberboard. They may, however, be formed of corrugatedboard or other suitable material of like nature.

The cover section l4 has its upper edge formed with a right-angularlybent side flange 2| and has its end edges formed with end flanges 22.Tongues 23, bent at right angles to the end flanges 22, are stapled asat 24 to the ends of the side flange 2|. In order to obtain maximumreinforcement at the free edge of the cover memher, the side flange 2|is of greater depth than the end flanges 22. Furthermore, the ends ofthe side flanges may be cut down in depth, as at 26, to coincide withthe depth of the tongues 23. It is not desirable to have the end flanges22 of as great depth as the side flange 2|, as this takes an unnecessaryamount of material without accomplishing any useful purpose. The othercover member I5 is similarly formed with a. side flange 26, and with endflanges 21 having tongues 26 which are stapled to the ends of the sideflange as at 29. The ends of the side flange 26 are cut down in depth asat 36.

The end walls l6 and I! are identical in construction and, therefore,the description of one end wall will suflice. Referring to Figs. 5 and 6the end wall blank has a hand hole 3| and also has spaced parallel linesof scoring 32 and 33 which deflne a downwardly foldable channelformingportion 34 and an upwardly foldable channel-forming portion 36. Midwaybetween the sides of the blank is a slot which crosses the line ofscoring 32. This forms a slot portion 36 extending downwardly from thescore line 32 in the end wall proper and a slot portion 31 which extendsdownwardly in the channel-forming portion 34 and which registers withthe slot portion 36 when the blank is folded, as in Fig. 6. In addition,there are horizontal slots 38 at the ends of the score line 33 betweenthe downwardly and upwardly foldable portions 34 and 35.

When the end walls are assembled in the container the downwardly foldedchannel-forming portions 34 contact the inner sides of the upper edgesof the flanges I9 connected with the side walls, as is clear from Figs.1 and 2. The upwardly folded channel-forming portion 36 contacts theouter sides of the upper ends of the side wall flanges l9. This novelarrangement is permitted 'by the slots 36, which slots receive the upperends of the flanges l6. Thus these upper ends of the flanges l9 spacethe two portions 34 and 36 of the channels a required distance apart. Inaddition, this arrangement prevents the channel-forming members fromprojecting too far outwardly from the ends of the box. Staples 40,

which extend through the ends of the channelforming portion 36, throughthe upper ends of the flanges l6, through the ends of the channelformingportion 34, and through the end wall "proper, maintain the end wallchannels in assembled position.

When the cover sections l4 and II are closed,

the cut-down portions 26 and 33 of the cover side flanges 2| and 26,together with the inwardly bent tongues 23 and 23, are received in thedownwardly extending slots of the end walls, as is illustrated in Figs.2, 3 and 4. These slots are formed by portions 36 extending downwardlyfrom the upper edges of the end walls and by portions 3'! extendingdownwardly in the downwardly foldable channel-forming part 34. At thesame time the end flanges 22 and 21 of the cover members are receivedwithin the end wall channels, The parts are so arranged so that thesecover end flanges readily enter the channels. On the other hand thespacing is such that when fully inserted in the channels they arefrictionally maintained in position. Furthermore, the meeting flanges 2|and 26 of the two cover members frictionally engage one another inclosed position and are also frictionally held in the end wall slots.

Due to the novel use of the end wall channels, together with end wallslots, the container possesses unusual rigidity. The side flanges 2| and26 of the covers reinforce the covers against downward pressure and alsostrengthen the box against inward pressures on the end walls. Suchinward pressure is also prevented because of the engagement of the coverend flanges in the channels. At the same time the channels preventoutward strains on the end walls from causing the end walls to bowoutwardly. Due to the snug fit of all of the parts, when in closedposition, the container is strongly braced against diagonal pressures.Furthermore, the possibility of the cover members popping open duringhandling is minimized Although only one form of the invention has beendescribed, it is obvious that various changes and modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example,the end wall channels may be formed by separate members connected to theend walls. In addition, the construction as to certain features may beemployed in boxes other than the "Bil-as type. Various other changes maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention and all ofsuch changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of theclaims.

What we claim is:

1. In a container having'side and end walls, each end wall having anupper edge portion folded downwardly on the outer side of the end walland then upwardly to provide an upwardly opening channel, there being aslot extending downwardly from the upper edge of each end wall and therebeing a registering slot formed in the downwardly folded part of eachchannel, complementary cover members hinged to said side walls andfoldable toward one another over the container, and side and end flangeson each cover member, said side flanges being received in the upper edgeslots of the end walls and said end flanges being received in said endwall channels when the cover members are closed.

2. In a container having side and end walls, each end wall having anupper edge portion folded downwardly on the outer side of the end walland then upwardly to provide an upwardly opening channel, there being aslot extending downwardly from the upper edge of each end wall and therebeing a registering slot formed in the downwardly folded part of eachchannel,

complementary cover members hinged to said side walls and foldabletoward one another over the container, and side and end flanges on eachcover member, said side flanges being received in the upper edge slotsof the end walls and said end flanges being received in said end wallchannels when the cover members are closed, and metal staples securingsaid channel-forming parts in folded position so that the channelsfrictionally aid in maintaining the 'cover end flanges in position whenthe cover members are closed.

3. In a container having a bottom provided with end flaps and havingside walls provided with end flaps, an end wall secured at each end ofthe container to said end flaps of the bottom and side walls, each endwall having an upper edge portion folded downwardly on the outer side ofthe end wall and then upwardly to provide an upwardly opening channel,there being a fold line between said downwardly and upwardly foldedchannel parts with slots in the ends of said fold line for receivingupper end portions of the side wall end flaps, each end wall having aslot extending downwardly from its upper edge and there being aregistering slot formed in the downwardly folded part of each channel,complementary cover members hinged to said side walls and foldabletoward one another over the container, and side and end flanges on eachcover member, said cover side flanges being received in the upper edgeslots of the end wall and said cover end flanges being received in saidend wall channels when the cover members are closed.

4. In a container having a bottom provided with end flaps and havingside walls provided with end flaps, an end wall secured at each end ofthe container to said end flaps of the bottom and side walls, each endwall having an upper edge portion folded downwardly on the outer side ofthe end wall and then upwardly to provide an upwardly opening channel,there being a fold line between said downwardly and upwardly foldedchannel parts with slots in the ends of said fold line for receivingupper end portions of the side wall end flaps, complementary covermembershinged to said side walls and foldable toward one another overthe container, and end flanges on each cover member which are receivedin said end wall channels when the cover members are closed.

5. In a container having a bottom provided with end flaps and havingside walls provided with end flaps, an end wall secured at each end ofthe container to said end flaps of the bottom and side walls. each endwall having an upper edge portion folded downwardly on the outer side ofthe end wall and then upwardly to provide an upwardly opening channel,there being a fold line between said downwardly and upwardly foldedchannel parts with slots in the ends of said fold line for receivingupper end portions of the side wall end flaps, complementary covermembers hinged to said side walls and foldable toward one another overthe container, end flanges on each cover member which are received insaid end wall channels when the cover members are closed, and metalstaples at the ends of each channel extending through the upwardlyfolded channel-forming part, through the upper ends of the side wall andflanges, through the downwardly folded channel-formmg part and throughthe end wall proper.

6. In a container having side and end walls, each end wall having anupper edge portion folded downwardly on the outer side of the end walland then upwardly to provide an upwardly opening channel, there being aslot extending downwardly from the upper edge of each end wall and therebeing a registered slot formed in the downwardly folded part of eachchannel, complementary cover members hinged to said side walls andfoldable toward one another over the container, side and end flanges oneach cover member, and angularly bent corner tongues connecting the sideand end flanges, said side flanges and tongues being received in theupper edge slots of the end walls and said end flanges being received insaid end wall channels when the cover members are closed.

7. In a container having side and end walls, each end wall having anupper edge portion folded downwardly on the outer side of the end walland then upwardly to provide an upwardly opening channel, there being aslot extending downwardly from the upper edge of each end wall and therebeing a registering slot formed in the downwardly folded part of eachchannel, complementary cover members hinged to said side walls andfoldable toward one another over the container, side and end flanges oneach cover member, and angularly bent corner tongues connecting the sideand end flanges, said side flanges and tongues being received in theupper edge slots of the end walls and said end flanges being received insaid end wall channels when the cover members are closed, and metalstaples securing said channel-forming parts in folded position so thatthe channels frictionally aid in maintaining the cover end flanges inposition when the cover members are closed.

8;!!! a container having a bottom provided with end flaps and havingside walls provided with end flaps, an end wall secured at each end ofthe container to said end flaps of the bottom and side walls, each endwall having an upper edge portion folded downwardly on the outer side ofthe end wall and then upwardly to provide an upwardly opening channel,there being a fold line between said downwardly and upwardly foldedchannel parts with slots in the ends of said fold line for receivingupper end portions of the side wall end flaps, each end wall having aslot extending downwardly from its upper edge and there being aregistering slot formed in the downwardly folded part of each channel,complementary cover members hinged to said side walls and foldabletoward one another over the container, side and end flanges on eachcover member, and angularly bent corner tongues connecting the side andend flanges. said cover side flanges and tongues being received in theupper edge slots of the end wall and said cover end flanges beingreceived in said end wall channels when the cover members are closed.

JOHN R. RICHARDS. CHAS. W. EVERT.

